OnTheJourney

Very little trouble with RC, but the X website often doesn't seem to recognize either my username, pw, or a combination thereof - so often I've wound up just resetting the pw and making it the same thing. Carl Hess (you might remember him? Art teacher for Hamburg and Tilden Elementary) used to say "ain't technology wonnerful"! (BTW...how are things going for you? Long time no hear...) 🤔

Of course I do, which is why I was willing to pay $75 to get one! But, I just wanted to convey that if we don't like one we'd (maybe) get with the newer design (I don't like what I see on pictures anyway), why bother keeping it? Not a chance! They already owe us, so I'll take that sucker at 210 points and decide if I want to keep it or not. Yeah, true enough, but, as my sister-in-law said, who has 13 of them and several stratums, they also make good doorstops. 😉

Doubtful we'll accumulate alot more points. We only have 20 cruises total. Only 9 of those are with RC, with the first being in 2011. At 68 and 69 years old, with DW having developed some health issues past year or so, simply not realistic. That's why I really wanted this block. With any luck maybe one more if we hit 210 points. Thanks for the encouragement, but reality is reality. 188 points right now. Pinnacle only another 512 away! HA! Even with earning dbl points that's 256 nights ÷ an average 8-night cruise = 32 cruises. If doing 3 a year (and they'd all have to be with RC) = 10 years. Don't see it happening. IF cruising was our only (let alone favorite) vacation mode, maybe - but land touring / car trips are still our favorite. Easy to see that in my signature! And, we really like Viking the past few years (even after surviving a bomb cyclone by being air lifted), so we're not "loyal to Royal". My bigger goal is to see more US National parks. Only reason we managed D+ is cause the last few cruises were quadruple suite points. That helps to add up much faster. Never did a cruise (nor wouldn't) without a suite, so at least double points.

Yikes..I'll never get close to that. If all my previous cruises would have been with RCL, I'd be much farther along. I could take or leave the whole tier / points system as far as that goes.

I'll do that for our next cruise. If we do 12 nights we're at the 210 point level and so qualify for another block. Then, IF we actually get one (I'll be frankly surprised), and I don't care for it, I'll list it on my eBay site. No problem selling these. Only a small box needed to make things easier. Some sell with or without the original box. Doesn't seem to matter. People snap them up. Prices are often a bit high but most accept a decent offer.

This is why I didn't think to even call them. Figured it could take quite awhile and never spoke to anyone else about it so as to find out what the approximate wait time actually is. I don't foresee getting more than one more of these quite honestly since we don't always cruise with RCL, and if it's the new design with the color picture of the ship, not really sure I want it. By 8 months following the cruise where we earned the block, there were a good number of trips in the meantime and so totally forgot about the block. If there was some sort of 12-month time limitation, we should have been notified of that. It's all good. I'm going to get the one I just bought, and I'll enjoy having it. Talked to at least one eBay seller who realized that after awhile he simply got tired of these blocks, figured their kids wouldn't want them some day either, and so decided to sell them! He said that each one he sells helps to pay for a specialty dining meal onboard! He'd sell the stratums also except that they're personalized. All in the interest, he said, of reducing clutter. I get it, and something I should do as well.

Just picked one up on eBay. Looks terrific in the pictures. The guy never even had it out of the original box. RCL wasn't going to give me one for reaching 140 points on the Enchantment, so I found one a different way. Case closed.

Surely will next time around.

This exact same thing has been stated relative to other cruise lines here on CC! So much nicer. I'm going to buy one on eBay - that's the only way I'll get one for the 140 points. Then for 210 (when and if) it'll probably be the newer style, which I really don't care for as much. Chintzy looking in comparison IMHO.

Finally called C&A. Wow…trying to get to talk someone there was more frustrating then not getting our block! Anyway, I’m told that had we called within the 12-month timeframe and said we never received it, we could likely have gotten one; however, nowhere was it ever stated to us that this policy even existed, making it still unfair. How were we to know? Either way, I was told it’s definitely too late to request an exception. The agent I talked with indicated that she spoke with a supervisor and asked, but it was denied. Case closed. They assure me I’ll get one if we reach 210. I’ll believe it when I see the block either in the room or in the mail. She did say that there was indeed a shortage of blocks during and following the pandemic. Then, there were some sort of issues with the supplier so they switched to a different one. Sounds like the newest blocks aren’t the same crystal engraving but rather a picture of the ship on the water - much like what you see on their backgrounds for personal photos. ebayI actually have no interest in one if that’s how it looks. Maybe I’ll buy a nice one on eBay. So is this what they're doing now? If so, they can keep it. https://www.ebay.com/itm/126462825943?itmmeta=01HXF6B9CS1FW0HV37HG1Y5B26&hash=item1d71c595d7:g:1kQAAOSwni5mKynw&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0CLxITD0vkXW9OqTW%2FzNK53sW2V7b9gtkkBo4zFaX%2Fa5eofy7euqoMrHwy2CiznQiFZ0V6qXoViRtVfygh2DrcXTP4QabFmBfcvdjTNz8mLV6Krju2BbmGcLvZU0KSkUoXGlBWPextcNmKWzh9me0a67TJbkre5j%2BoAE6Kn3PpsmWC7lpMib9AdAv6YYBjGP9IF%2BY%2BY8DNJhBz2MbrN%2BIZtfR%2FlIoMyJmWJmlHQhdeoVgyCFlx8zUgr5Ija1%2F19nRBVQjPYwJO053AanR59O7t4%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR7yWrebrYw

Letter #3 and 4 from C&A..variations on a theme... Thank you for contacting Royal Caribbean International. I am sorry for your disappointment, and I understand your frustration with regard to your Crystal Block. I want to thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I will be making sure to share your feedback and comments with our management team. We appreciate your loyalty and we do apologize for any inconvenience this might cause. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for contacting Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society. I completely understand how disappointed and frustrated you must feel about not receiving your Crystal Block from your 140 milestone. I can see that you reached this milestone back in 2022, and unfortunately, our 12-month policy prevents us from fulfilling your request. However, please know that we truly value your loyalty, and we are committed to making things right. You will still be eligible to receive your 210 milestone Crystal Block when you reach 210 Cruise points, and we will make sure that you receive it onboard the ship. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. My question to them remains: WHY can they not still send these blocks if it's beyond the 12 month timeframe? I can see if the guest failed to request it and then comes back a year or so later asking for it, but we filled out the form on the ship. It's their goof.

By making offers, I'm sure.

Got a 2nd email reply from C&A: "After reviewing your profile again, I regret to inform you that no notes indicate that an agent had previously advised about the unavailability of Crystal Blocks. It appears there was a miscommunication, and for that, we sincerely apologize. We understand the frustration this may cause. We are afraid we cannot request a Crystal Block award on your behalf. This decision is based on criteria beyond our control, and we sincerely apologize for any disappointment this may cause. We value your contributions and are grateful for your understanding in this matter. Please let us know if there is any other way we can assist you or recognize your efforts." I should write back: You can assist me by still mailing me a block. I did respond and indicated that regardless of whatever miscommunication may have taken place, we did what we were told to in completing the form and handing it in while onboard. Beyond that, it's their failure to not have gotten one to us. At this point, if they ever do get one to us I'll probably just list it on eBay for $75 or best offer. 😆

I'll take a recession over another pandemic.

This does not come as any sort of surprise.

Well, just on a matter of principle I'm going to pursue it a bit further by calling them. I can surely live without this thing, but on the other hand feel like I earned it and should have it. OR, I can buy one on eBay. There are loads of them on there. Guess people maybe got tired of dusting them!

Well, the letter I got is attempting to do just that it would seem. It didn't invite further correspondence regarding it.

Exactly, which is why I think what they're saying in the letter is a weak excuse to still not issue one.

Just got this from C&A: "Thank you for reaching out to our Crown & Anchor department. Commemorative Crystal Blocks are earned when reaching the 140 Cruise Points milestone, and every 70 Cruise Points. We are afraid that the fulfillment of Crystal Blocks is exclusively available for those acquired during cruises taken within the previous 12 months. Our records show that you reached the 140 Cruise Points milestone during your March 17, 2022, sailing onboard Enchantment of the Seas. Unfortunately, we cannot request this award to be mailed to you since you are outside the 12 months. We understand that this policy may be disappointing to some, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We aim to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of rewards, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter. Thank you for choosing our services, and we look forward to welcoming you aboard in the future. Thank you for choosing Royal Caribbean. To book your next sailing, please get in touch with your preferred travel agency, go to www.royalcaribbean.com, or call our sales department at (800) 205-9812. We are currently running a Buy One Get One 60% off sale! Kindly note that prices and availability are subject to change at any time." I responded by saying that is THEY, not us, who failed to "ensure a fair and equitable distribution of rewards" by not mailing us one as promised during the cruise. This letter doesn't satisfy me in the least. I think they should make one and give it to us, along with a 2nd one - when (and if) we do another cruise with RCL. How cheap can they get??

yes...as already answered in post #11, but thanks anyway!

Next time we cruise with RCL I'm definitely going to. A 12-day cruise would take us to 212 points (using a suite) so it should qualify. I should already have gotten one for hitting 140.

We definitely would have been on a ship when crossing over the 140 mark. I had messaged RCL yesterday but never heard back yet. I'll have to call C&A.

I will. Never opposed to bugging these cruise line people about stuff if I think it's something they should have given me. Worth a try.

We might have done that also. Not sure anymore. Not going to lose any sleep over it, and haven't. Just came to mind now having read the other thread about D+ pins. Just thought it'd be cool to have. Nice addition to one of our bookshelves dedicated to travel.

what does this refer to? The "A" for attendant?